Fortnite leaders denounce potential permanent absence from iPhones in the UK, condemning perceived unfavorable updates
In a surprising turn of events, the return of Fortnite to iPhones in the UK is facing uncertainty due to a dispute with Apple over fees and issues with the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
### Background of the Dispute
The conflict between Epic Games and Apple began in 2020 when Epic introduced a direct payment method in Fortnite, bypassing Apple's 30% commission on in-game purchases. This led to Fortnite being removed from the App Store. Despite a recent court ruling in May 2025 that forced Apple to revise its App Store policies in the US, this resolution did not extend to the UK.
### UK-Specific Issues
The UK passed a new competition law in May 2024 intended to force tech giants like Apple to allow alternative app stores. However, Epic Games claims the CMA has not effectively enforced these regulations, failing to open the iOS platform to competition. The CMA is also criticized for deprioritizing efforts to introduce alternative app stores on Apple and Google platforms in the UK, effectively stalling any potential return of Fortnite to iOS devices.
Epic Games, the creators of Fortnite, criticizes the CMA for not taking decisive action against Apple's monopolistic practices, which Epic believes stifle competition and innovation in the app market.
### Impact on Fortnite's Return
The ongoing dispute and lack of regulatory progress mean that Fortnite's return to iOS in the UK remains uncertain, with Epic suggesting it may not happen at all. Android users can access Fortnite via the Epic Games Store, but only by downloading it outside of the Google Play Store, a workaround Apple does not allow on iOS for security and safety reasons.
While Fortnite is available on PC and consoles, the absence on iOS in the UK leaves mobile players without access to the game on their preferred platform. Epic Games plans to introduce the Epic Games Store and Fortnite to other countries, including Brazil and Japan, later this year.
The CMA's latest proposals to improve mobile platforms have been described as "bleak" by Epic Games, adding to the uncertainty surrounding Fortnite's return to the UK's iOS platform. The dispute between Epic Games and Apple regarding fees and the launch of the Epic Games Store is still ongoing.
- The disagreement between Epic Games and Apple concerning fees and the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) policies is impacting the return of Fortnite to iPhones in the business sector.
- Enforcement of the new competition law in the UK, aimed at tech giants like Apple, is being criticized by Epic Games as inadequate, hindering the development of a competitive app market in the technology landscape.
- The ongoing policy-and-legislation discussions about mobile platforms and app stores are resulting in uncertainties, affecting the return of Fortnite, which is one of the popular smartphone games in the general-news sector.
- Epic Games, in addition to planning to launch the Epic Games Store in countries like Brazil and Japan, is also facing a continuous dispute with Apple over fees and the launch of the Epic Games Store in the political arena.
